Device for igniting percussion-ignitable flash lamps

ABSTRACT

A device is provided for igniting a percussion-ignitable flashlamp in use with photographic apparatus such as a camera, the device comprising a socket to receive a flash unit including a percussion-ignitable lamp, an actuating member movable into contact with such a unit received in the socket to ignite the lamp, and electromagnetic means, such as a solenoid, for effecting movement of the actuating member into contact with the unit, so that the lamp is ignited in response to energization of the electromagnetic means. The device may be connected to the photographic apparatus or it may be located remotely from the apparatus and used as a slave flash device. The electromagnetic means may be energized by electrical energy received through electrical conductors connected to the apparatus or by signal energy, such as light, radio frequency energy, or a sonic signal, transmitted from the apparatus. The electromagnetic means may move the actuating member directly into contact with the flash unit or it may release the actuating member for movement by a spring or other biasing means into contact with the unit. The actuating member may percussively contact the lamp itself or it may contact a striking member on the received flash unit to move the striking member into percussive contact with the lamp. The socket of the device may be adapted to receive a multilamp flash unit having a plurality of percussion-ignitable flash lamps, and means may be provided in the device for rotating such a socket in response to energization of the electromagnetic means. The socket may conveniently be adapted to receive alternatively a percussion-ignitable flashlamp unit and an electrically ignitable flashlamp unit, in which case a pair of electrical contacts connected electrically in parallel with the electromagnetic means and connectable to an electrically ignitable flashlamp of a unit received in the socket may be provided to effect ignition of an electrically ignitable lamp in response to energization of the electromagnetic means.

United States Patent [72] Inventor DonaldM.Harvey Webster,N.Y. 121AppLNo. 767,348 1221 Filed Oct.l4,l968

[45] Patented I73] Assignee June I, 1971 Eastman Kodak CompanyRochester, N.Y.

g [54] DEVICE FOR IGNITING PERCUSSION-IGNITABL FLASH LAMPS 5 Claims, 8Drawing Figs.

52 U.S.Cl 95/11,

240/1.3,431 92 s11 lnt.C| ..G03bl9/00 501 FieldofSearch ..95/ll,11.5;

Primary Examiner--Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Robert P.Greiner Attorneys-Robert W. Hampton and William C. Dixon, lll

ABSTRACT: A device is provided for igniting a percussion-ignitableflashlamp in use with photographic apparatus such as a camera, thedevice comprising a socket to receive a flash unit including apercussion-ignitable lamp, an actuating member movable into contact withsuch a unit received in the socket to ignite the lamp, andelectromagnetic means, such as a solenoid, for effecting movement of theactuating member into contact with the unit, so that the lamp is ignitedin response to energization of the electromagnetic means. The device maybe connected to the photographic apparatus or it may be located remotelyfrom the apparatus and used as a slave flash device. The electromagneticmeans may be energized by electrical energy received through electricalconductors connected to the apparatus or by signal energy, such aslight, radio frequency energy, or a sonic signal, transmitted from theapparatus. The electromagnetic means may move the actuating memberdirectly into contact with the flash unit or it may release theactuating member for movement by a spring or other biasing means intocontact with the unit. The actuating member may percussively contact thelamp itself or it may contact a striking member on the received flashunit to move the striking member into percussive contact with the lamp.The socket of the device may be adapted to receive a multilamp flashunit having a plurality of percussion-ignitable flash lamps, and meansmay be provided in the device for rotating such a socket in response toenergization of the electromagnetic means. The socket may convenientlybe adapted to receive alternatively a percussion-ignitable flashlampunit and an electrically ignitable flashlamp unit, in which case a pairof electrical contacts connected electrically in parallel with theelectromagnetic means and connectable to an electrically ignitableflashlamp of a unit received in the socket may be provided to effectignition of an electrically ignitable lamp in response to energizationof the electromagnetic means.

Patented June 1, 1971 2 S'neet 5 1 DONALD M. HARVEY INVENTQR.

M Q9 I 44.1 4) TTORNEYs Patented June 1, 1-971 2 Sheets-Sheet :3

DONALD M. HARVEY INVENTOR.

By M C169 [fmbM ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR IGNITING PERCUSSION-IGNITABLE FLASHLAMPS CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made to thefollowing commonly assigned, copending US. Pat. applications:

Ser. No. 765,930, entitled MULTILAMP FLASH UNIT, filed Oct. 8, 1968 inthe name of David E. Beach;

Ser. No. 765,931, entitled SOCKET FOR MULTILAMP FLASH UNIT, filed Oct.8, 1968 in the name of David E. Beach; and Ser. No. 766,739, entitledAPPARATUS FOR ACTUATING FIRING OF PERCUSSION-IGNITABLE FLASH LAMPS ANDOPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR, filed Oct. ll, I968 in the name of WilliamT. Hochreiter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates generally to photographic apparatus, and particularly to adevice for igniting a percussion-ignitable fiashlamp in use withphotographic apparatus such as a camera.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has long been known in the prior artto ignite a photoflash device by percussive means, as illustrated, forexample, in Us. Pat. No. 942,941, issued in 1909 to .I. A. Smith,relating to the firing of photographic flash powders.

Of more recent vintage is a self-contained, percussion-ignitablefiashlamp unit having a lamp envelope enclosing a combustible materialand a combustion-supporting gas, with a metal tube extending from thebottom of the lamp envelope and containing a primer charge that isignitable in response to percussive contact with the tube by amechanically actuated striking member or hammer built into photographicapparatus adapted to receive such a unit. A flashlamp unit of this kindis described in commonly assigned, copending US Pat. application Ser.No. 765,930, entitled MULTILAMP FLASH UNIT, filed Oct. 8, 1968 in thename of David E. Beach.

Also known in the art is a slave-type of flash device, located remotelyfrom an associated photographic apparatus, utilizing an electricallyignitable flashlamp that is energizable by energy received from theassociated apparatus. Such a unit may receive its energy in the form ofelectrical energy received through electricity conducting wiresconnecting the unit to the associated apparatus, as is well known, or inthe form of radio frequency energy received from a transmitter on theassociated apparatus as illustrated, for example, in US. Pat. No.3,185,056, issued in I965 to N. Gold et al., or in the form of lightenergy received from a master flash unit on the associated apparatus, asillustrated, for example, in US. Pat. No. 3,312,086, issued in 1967 toO. T. Casebeer et al.

None of the prior art, however, teaches or suggests a way of effectingignition of a percussion-ignitable fiashlamp unit of the kind describedother than by direct mechanical actuation of the striking member orhammer so as to permit ready use of a percussion-ignitable fiashlampunit in a slave-type of device that may be located remotely from theassociated apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present inventionwas to provide a device for readily igniting a percussion-ignitablefiashlamp unit that may be located remotely from and/or unconnected tophotographic apparatus with which such a device may be used.

Another object was to provide such a device that is suitable forreceiving and igniting a multilamp flash unit having a plurality ofpercussion-ignitable fiashlamps therein.

A further object of this invention was to provide such a device that isequally suitable for receiving and igniting either apercussion-ignitable fiashlamp unit or an electrically ignitableflashlamp unit.

To meet these and other objects, the present invention provides a devicefor effecting ignition of a percussion-ignitable fiashlamp being usedwith photographic apparatus such as a camera, the device comprising asocket adapted to receive a flash unit including one or morepercussion-ignitable flash lamps, an actuating member movable intocontact with a flash unit received in the socket to ignite apercussion-ignitable lamp of the received unit, and electromagneticmeans, such as a solenoid, that is opcratively associated with theactuating member to effect movement of the actuating member into contactwith the received unit in response to energization of theelectromagnetic means.

The electromagnetic means may be energized by electrical energy receivedthrough electrical conductors connecting the device to the photographicapparatus. Or the electromagnetic means may be energized by one form oranother of signal energy that is transmitted from the photographicapparatus, received by a sensor in the device, and then communicatedthrough appropriate circuit means in the device to the electromagneticmeans. With the latter type of energization, the signal energy may be,for example, in the form of light emitted by a master flash unit on thephotographic apparatus and received by a photoelectric cell included inthe device, or it may be in the form of radio frequency energy emittedby a transmitter on the apparatus and received by an antenna included inthe device, or it may be in the form of a sonic signal emitted by asonic emitter on the apparatus and received by a sonic pickup includedin the device. Thus, the present invention may be embodied in a flashdevice that is connectable to the photographic apparatus with which itis being used, or the invention may be embodied in a slave flash devicethat is locatable remotely from, without physical connection to, theassociated photographic apparatus.

The socket in either type of device may be adapted to receive,alternatively, a percussion-ignitable fiashlamp unit and an electricallyignitable fiashlamp unit, in which case a pair of electrical contactsconnected electrically in parallel with the electromagnetic means andconnectable to an electrically ignitable fiashlamp of a unit received inthe socket are provided to effect ignition of the connected lamp inresponse to energization of the electromagnetic means. The socket ineither type of device may also be adapted to receive a multilamp flashunit having a plurality of percussion-ignitable fiashlamps, in whichcase means may be provided in the device for rotating the socket fromone lamp-firing position to another in response to energization of theelectromagnetic means.

The electromagnetic means in either type of device may effect movementof the actuating member into contact with a flash unit received in thesocket either by directly moving the actuating member itself or byreleasing the actuating member for movement by a spring or other biasingmeans. Similarly, the actuating member in either type of device mayignite a percussion-ignitable lamp of a received flash unit either bydirectly moving into percussive contact with the lamp or by moving intocontact with a striking member on the received flash unit, or withanother part of the unit holding the striking member, so as to cause thestriking member to move into percussive contact with the lamp.

The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more apparentin the detailed description of the illustrated embodiments presentedbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of theillustrated embodiments of the invention presented below, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of an adapter that could incorporate eitherof the forms of the preferred embodiment of the present inventionillustrated schematically in FIGS. la and lb, the adapter having asocket for receiving a multilamp flash unit and a foot insertable into ashoe atop a photographic apparatus;

FIG. la is a schematic view of one form of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention wherein the electromagnetic means is connectedelectrically to synchronizing contacts in a photographic camera andwherein the electromagnetic means moves the actuating member directly;

FIG. lb is a schematic view of another form of the embodimentillustrated in FIG. la wherein the electromagnetic means releases aspring-loaded actuating member;

FIG. lc is a fragmentary view of the form of the embodiment illustratedin, FIG. lb, showing schematically the actuating member in operativerelationship to a multilamp flash unit;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view ofa slave flash device that couldincorporate any of the forms of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention illustrated schematically in FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c, the devicehaving a socket for receiving a multilamp flash unit and a sensor toreceive signal energy transmitted from a photographic apparatus;

FIG. 2a a schematic view of one form of the alternative embodiment ofthe present invention wherein a slave flash device includes aphotoelectric cell to receive signal energy in the form lighttransmitted from a master flashlamp on the photographic camera;

FIG. 2b is a schematic view of another form of alternative embodiment ofthe present invention wherein a save flash device includes an antenna toreceive signal energy in the form of radio frequency energy transmittedfrom a transmitter on a photographic camera; and

FIG. 2c is a schematic view of still another form of the alternativeembodiment of the present invention wherein a slave flash deviceincludes a sonic pickup to receive signal energy in the form of a sonicsignal transmitted from a sonic emitter on a photographic camera.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Because certain parts ofphotographic and related apparatus are well known, the followingdescription is directed in particular .to those elements forming, orcooperating directly with, the present invention, elements that are notspecifically shown or described herein being understood to be selectablefrom those known in the art.

FIG. la of the drawings illustrates, schematically, one form of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, in which electromagneticmeans such as a solenoid I0 is connected by a pair of wires II tosynchronizing contacts 12 in a photographic camera 13. Included in thecircuit 14 containing the coil 15 of the solenoid and the synchronizingcontacts is a source of electrical potential such as a battery 16, asshown. The solenoid 10 is disposed in an electromagnetically attractingrelationship to a movable actuating member such as hammer 17, theactuating member being attracted to the solenoid coil upon energizationof the coil by the closing of the synchronizing contacts. The actuatingmember, or hammer 17, is shown schematically in the form of a simple,springbiased lever pivotally mounted in the device and having, at theopposite end thereof, a wedge-shaped portion 18 that moves intopercussive contact with the primer element or ignition tube 19 of apercussion-ignitable flashlamp 20 seated in a suitable socket (notshown). In operation, the preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. laeffects ignition of the percussion-ignitable lamp 20 in response to thecameras movement of a shutter-release member 21 on the camera, suchmovement of the shutter-release member causing simultaneous release ofthe camera shutter (not shown) and closing of synchronizing contacts 12,whereupon solenoid 10 becomes energized and thereby moves the actuatingmember or hammer l7-into percussive contact with the primer element orignition tube 19 of the percussion-ignitable flash lamp 20.

FIG. lb illustrates, schematically, another form of the preferredembodiment of the present invention, in which the actuating member 30,instead of being moved directly by the solenoid, is moved by a spring 31or other biasing means into percussive contact with the primer elementor ignition tube 32 of a percussion-ignitable flashlamp 33, the solenoid34 operating, when energized, to move a retaining member 35 and therebyrelease the actuating member 30 for movement by the spring 31 intopercussive contact with the lamp.

FIG. lc illustrates, schematically, a portion of the form of theembodiment of FIG. lb with the actuating member 30 shown cocked byretaining member 35 for movement by spring 3] into contact with amultilamp flash unit 40 containing a plurality of percussion-ignitableflashlamps such as the type disclosed, for example, in commonlyassigned, copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 765,930, filed Oct.8, I968 in the name of David E. Beach.

The forms of the preferred embodiment illustrated schematically in FIGS.Ia, lb, and 1c may be incorporated in an adapter connectable to aphotographic camera, as shown, for example, in FIG. I, or in a remotelylocated device connectable to a photographic camera by means ofelectrical conductors such as flexible wires. The adapter 50 shown inFIG. 1 comprises a body portion 51, a socket 52 for receiving apercussion-ignitable multilamp flash unit 56, and a foot 53 insertableinto a shoe 54 atop a photographic camera 55. Sockets of the typesuitable for receiving a percussionignitable multilamp flash unit aredescribed, for example, in com' monly assigned, copending US. Pat.application ser. No. 765,93l, filed Oct. II, I968 in the name of DavidE. Beach. Insertion of the foot into the shoe effects an electricalconnection, by suitable contacts in both members, between a sole noid(not shown) in body portion 51 and a synchroflash circuit (not shown) incamera 55, as is well-known in the art. The adapter of FIG. I thusprovides a convenient means of adapt ing a photographic camera having asynchroflash circuit intended for the ignition of an electricallyignitable flashlamp to effect the ignition ofa percussionignitableflashlamp.

As a possible modification of the adapter illustrated in FIG. I, thefoot 53 could be replaced by a base similar to the base of a multilampflash unit for insertion into a multilamp flash unit socket on thephotographic camera. With such an arrangement, some means would have tobe provided for preventing rotation of the adapter by the socketrotating mechanism usually preset in such a camera. Such a means isshown, for example, in commonly assigned, copending U.S. Pat.application Ser. No. 563,904, filed July 8, I966 in the name of ManfredRadtke; In addition to serving as an adapter, such a device as thatillustrated in FIG. 1 may serve as an extender for the purpose ofextending the distance between the picture taking axis of the camera andthe photoflash lamp being used, thereby aiding in preventing thecondition known in the photographic art as red eye. For an illustrationof a flash extender, reference is made to commonly assigned, copendingU.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 467,278, filed June 28, 1965 in the nameof Lawrence M. Wood.

FIG. 2 illustrates a slave type of flash device incorporating analternative embodiment of the present invention. Such a unit may beresponsive to photoflash illumination received from a master flash uniton an associated photographic camera, as is known for the purpose ofigniting an electrically energizable flashlamp unit received in theslave device socket, as shown, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,086,issued Apr. 4, 1967 in the name of O. T. Casebeer et al. The slave flashdevice illustrated in FIG. 2, however, has been adapted, byincorporation of the present invention, to receive signal energy, in oneform or another, from a remotely located photographic apparatus toignite a percussion-ignitable lamp of a multilamp flash unit on thedevice. The slave flash device 60 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes ahousing 61, a rotatable socket 62 for receiving a multilamp flash unit63 of the percussion-ignitable type and a sensor 64, which can beconveniently oriented by rotating the sensor until the arrow 65 thereonpoints toward a signal emitter on the associated photographic apparatus.

FIGS. 20, 2b, and 2c illustrate, schematically, three forms of thealternative embodiment of the present invention which may beincorporated in a slave flash device of the type illustrated in FIG. 2.FIG. 2a shows, in the left-hand portion thereof, a photographic camera70 having a flash unit 71 thereon aimed to emit flash light L indirection parallel with the picture taking axis 0 of the camera. In theright-hand portion of FIG. 2a is shown, schematically, a form of thealternative embodiment that is suitable for use with camera 70. ln thisform of the embodiment is a photoelectric cell 72 connected by suitablecircuit means 73 to an electromagnetic means such as solenoid 74.Included circuit means 73 are electronic means 75 for filtering andamplifying signal energy received by cell 72 in order to render suchsignal energy suitable for energizing solenoid 74. Also included incircuit means 73 is a source of electrical potential such as battery 76connected to the electronic means 75 as shown. The solenoid 74 includesan electromagnet 77 and a spring-biased movable member 78 which iselectromagnetically attracted to the electromagnet upon energization ofthe electromagnet. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2a, themovablev member 78 is pivotally mounted, as at 79, on a fixed portion ofthe device for pivotal movement toward and away from the electromagnet77.

Schematically pictured above the electromagnet is a multilamp flash unit'80 having a plurality of percussion-ignitable flashlamps 81, eachofwhich lamps has a primer element or ignition tube 82 dependingtherefrom as shown, the ignition tube of the lamp that is in alamp-firing position being located in the path of movement of endportion 83 of movable member 78. With this arrangement, energization ofsolenoid 74 causes movement of movable member 78 into contact with theignition tube 82 ofa lamp 81 in the unit 80, thereby effectingpercussion ignition of the lamp.

Percussion ignition may result from movement by the movable member ofthe solenoid in either of two ways. First, the movable member,hereinafter referred to as the actuating member, may directly strike theignition tube in a percussive fashion, thereby causing percussionignition of the lamp. Second, the multilamp flash unit may have aspring-biased striking member mounted thereon in a cocked positionadjacent to but spaced from each ignition tube, the striking member, oranother part of such a unit holding the striking member in its cockedposition, being in the path of movement of the actuating member, theactuating member then contacting either the striking member or the otherpart of the unit holding it, as the case may be, to thereby release thestriking member for movement into percussive contact with the ignitiontube. A multilamp flash unit of the type just referred to, having abiased striking member adjacent to each ignition tube, is disclosed incommonly assigned, copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 766,739,filed Oct. 1 l, 1968 in the name ofWilliam T. Hochreiter.

Also, as shown schematically in FIG. 2a, the movable actuating member 78may be associated with means 84 for rotating the multilamp flash unitsocket (not shown). The socket rotating means 84 includes a shaftportion 85 coupled to the socket, biasing means such as spring 86 forrotating the shaft portion, and a plurality of ratchet teeth 87,corresponding in number to the number of lamps 81 in the multilamp flashunit 80, for stopping socket rotation at each lamp-firing position of aunit in the socket. For each lamp-firing position, one of the ratchetteeth 87 is engaged by a portion 88 of the solenoid actuating member 78,as apparent in FIG. 2a. Movement of the actuating-member 78 into contactwith the flash unit 80 simultaneously disengages portion 88 of theactuating member from the ratchet tooth 87 with which it has beenengaged, thereby permitting spring 86 to rotate the shaft portion 85,and hence the socket and multilamp flash unit in the socket, to asucceeding lamp-firing position.

Also shown in FIG. 2a is another feature of the present inventionwhereby the device of either embodiment can be used to ignite,alternatively, a percussion-ignitable flash unit received in the socketand an electrically ignitable flash unit received in the socket. Meansfor igniting a percussion-ignitable flash unit sov received have alreadybeen described. The means for igniting an electrically ignitable flashunit so received (not shown) comprises a pair of electrical contacts 89connected electrically in parallel with the solenoid 74 and connectableto suitable flashlamp contacts on the received flash unit. With such anarrangement, energization of the solenoid 74 also effects energizationof the electrical contacts 89, thereby igniting the connectedelectrically ignitable flashlamp. Thus the device illustrated in FIG. 2ais operable, upon receipt of flash illumination from the photoflashcamera 70, to ignite either a percussion-ignitable flash lamp or anelectrically ignitable flashlamp, and may also effect rotation of theflashunit socket to a succeeding lamp-firing position. FIG. 2billustrates, schematically, another form of the alternative embodimentof the invention which may be incorporated in a slave flash device ofthe type illustrated in FIG. 2. In the left-hand portion of FIG. 2b isshown a photographic camera 90 having radio'frequency-energytransmitting means 91 therein. In the right-hand portion of FlG. 2b isshown, schematically, a form of the alternative embodiment that issuitable for igniting a percussionignitable flashlamp in response toradio frequency energy R transmitted by camera 90. Included in this formof the embodiment is an antenna 92 for receiving the transmitted radiofrequency energy. The antenna is connected to a suitable circuit means93, similar to circuit means 73 shown in FlG. 2a, for filtering andamplifying the received signal energy and then communicating thefiltered and amplified energy to an electromagnetic means such assolenoid 94. As in the FIG. 2a embodiment, the solenoid 94 includes aspring-biased, movable, actuating member 95 pivotally mounted, as at 96,on a fixed portion of the device for pivotal movement, upon energizationof electromagnet 97, into contact with a percussionignitable flash unit98 received in an appropriate socket (not shown). With this arrangement,transmission of radio frequency energy from camera 90 is effective toignite a percussion-ignitable flash lamp received in the device.Although not shown, socket rotating means and electrical igniting meanssuch as those illustratedin FIG. 211 may also be incorporated in thedevice illustrated in FlG. 2b.

FlG. 2c illustrates, schematically, still another form of thealternative embodiment of the present invention which may beincorporated in a slave flash device of the type illustrated in FIG. 2.ln the left-hand portion of FIG. 20 is shown a photographic camera 100having means 101 for emitting a sonic signal S, and in the right-handportion of FlG. 2c is shown, schematically, a form of the alternativeembodiment that is suitable for receiving, filtering, amplifying, andcommunicating the sonic signal to thereby energize a solenoid 102 toeffect ignition of a percussion-ignitable flash unit 103 received in anappropriate socket (not shown). The sensor in this instance, whichreceives the signal energy emitted by camera 100, is a sonic pickup 104that is connected by suitable circuit means 105, similar to circuitmeans 73 in FIG. 2a, to solenoid 102. The circuit means here, as in theforms illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 2b, includes means for filteringandamplifying the received signal. The solenoid and alternative ways ofeffecting percussive contact with an ignition tube of a receivedflashlamp unit also are similar to those previously described withreference to FlGS. 2a and 2b.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the different forms ofthe two embodiments shown and described herein are not illustrations ofways in which the present invention may be utilized to effect ignitionof percussion-ignitable flashlamps, particularly such lamps that arelocated remotely from photographic apparatus with which the lamps are tobe used.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference tothe illustrated preferred and alternative embodiments thereof, but itwill be understood that variations and modifications can be effectedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. An adapter to enable the use of a first type of flash unit having atlest one lamp ignitable by the application of mechanical force to theunit with a photographic apparatus having a socket and electricalcircuit for receiving and actuating a second type of flashlamp unithaving at least one lamp ignitable electrically, said adapter including:

means for receiving a flash unit of the first type;

means movable from a first position to a second position for applying amechanical force to a unit of the first type received by said receivingmeans;

support means receivable by said socket of said photographic apparatusfor removably attaching said adapter to said photographic apparatus;

electromagnetic means energizeable to move said force applying meansfrom said first position to said second position; and

circuit means for connecting said electromagnetic means into theelectrical circuit of said photographic apparatus when said supportmeans is received by said socket. 2. The adapter according to claim 1wherein said receiving means is a rotatable socket adapted to receive amultilamp flash unit having a plurality of lamps ignitable by striking,and further comprising means responsive to said electromagnetic meansfor rotating said socket to sequentially position said lamps at a lampfiring position in response to energization of said electromagneticmeans.

3. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotating means includes:

a. biasing means for urging said socket rotatively from a lamp-firingposition to a succeeding lamp-firing position; and Y b. retaining meansfor releasably retaining said socket in a lamp-firing position inopposition to said biasing means, said retaining means being movable bysaid electromagnetic means, in response to energization of saidelectromagneticmeans, to release said socket and thereby permit saidsocket to be rotated by said biasing means to a succeeding lamp-firingposition.

4. For use with flashlamp units of a first type having at least one lampactuatable by the application ofa mechanical force to the unit, and withflashlamp units ofa second type having at least one lamp actuatablc bythe application of electrical energy to the unit, a photographicapparatus comprising;

means for interchangeably receiving both types of such flashlamp units;actuating means movable from a first position to a second position tocontact and apply an actuating mechanical force to a received unit; apair of electrical contacts positioned with respect to said receivingmeans to contact electrically a received unit having a lamp ignitableelectrically; electrical circuit means including electromagnetic meansenergizeable for moving said actuating means from its first position toits second position; and means connecting said electrical contacts inparallel with said electromagnetic means whereby energization of saidcircuit is effective to fire either an electrical flashlamp or aflashlamp ignitable by the application of force depending upon whichtype of unit is received in said receiving means. 5. Photographicapparatus comprising: means for interchangeably receiving a flashlampunit of the type having lamps ignitable electrically and a flashlampunit ignitable by the application of mechanical force; and anelectrically energizeable circuit including:

means for applying an actuating mechanical force to a unit of saidsecond type received in said receiving means in response to energizationof said circuit; and

means for applying actuating electrical energy to a unit of said firsttype received in said receiving means in response to energization ofsaid circuit.

1. An adapter to enable the use of a first type of flash unit having atlest one lamp ignitable by the application of mechanical force to theunit with a photographic apparatus having a socket and electricalcircuit for receiving and actuating a secOnd type of flashlamp unithaving at least one lamp ignitable electrically, said adapter including:means for receiving a flash unit of the first type; means movable from afirst position to a second position for applying a mechanical force to aunit of the first type received by said receiving means; support meansreceivable by said socket of said photographic apparatus for removablyattaching said adapter to said photographic apparatus; electromagneticmeans energizeable to move said force applying means from said firstposition to said second position; and circuit means for connecting saidelectromagnetic means into the electrical circuit of said photographicapparatus when said support means is received by said socket.
 2. Theadapter according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means is a rotatablesocket adapted to receive a multilamp flash unit having a plurality oflamps ignitable by striking, and further comprising means responsive tosaid electromagnetic means for rotating said socket to sequentiallyposition said lamps at a lamp firing position in response toenergization of said electromagnetic means.
 3. The device claimed inclaim 1 wherein said rotating means includes: a. biasing means forurging said socket rotatively from a lamp-firing position to asucceeding lamp-firing position; and b. retaining means for releasablyretaining said socket in a lamp-firing position in opposition to saidbiasing means, said retaining means being movable by saidelectromagnetic means, in response to energization of saidelectromagnetic means, to release said socket and thereby permit saidsocket to be rotated by said biasing means to a succeeding lamp-firingposition.
 4. For use with flashlamp units of a first type having atleast one lamp actuatable by the application of a mechanical force tothe unit, and with flashlamp units of a second type having at least onelamp actuatable by the application of electrical energy to the unit, aphotographic apparatus comprising; means for interchangeably receivingboth types of such flashlamp units; actuating means movable from a firstposition to a second position to contact and apply an actuatingmechanical force to a received unit; a pair of electrical contactspositioned with respect to said receiving means to contact electricallya received unit having a lamp ignitable electrically; electrical circuitmeans including electromagnetic means energizeable for moving saidactuating means from its first position to its second position; andmeans connecting said electrical contacts in parallel with saidelectromagnetic means whereby energization of said circuit is effectiveto fire either an electrical flashlamp or a flashlamp ignitable by theapplication of force depending upon which type of unit is received insaid receiving means.
 5. Photographic apparatus comprising: means forinterchangeably receiving a flashlamp unit of the type having lampsignitable electrically and a flashlamp unit ignitable by the applicationof mechanical force; and an electrically energizeable circuit including:means for applying an actuating mechanical force to a unit of saidsecond type received in said receiving means in response to energizationof said circuit; and means for applying actuating electrical energy to aunit of said first type received in said receiving means in response toenergization of said circuit.